Interchangeable mold-bo



"MTENT'ED MAY 14, 15307.

'W. R. CUNNINGHAM.

INTERHANGEABLE MOLD BOX.

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vv LLAM It. CUNIINGHAM,

U fritos, Unio, ASS'GU'R TU THE AMERICAN CLAY MACHINERY CO., OF B'UCYRUS', CHIC, A CORFO RATION.

INTERGHANGEABLE MOLD-Bo Specification of Letters Patent.

iratentecl May 14, 1907.

Application tiled December 29,1906. Serial No. 349,968.

Beit known that I, WTLLIAM R. CUNNING- HAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bucyrus, in th county of Crawford and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Interchangeable Mold- Boxes, 'of which the following is a specification.

My invention relate-s to certain new and 1o useful improvements in interchangeable mold boxes designed especially for use in repress machines, although in its use it is not restricted to 'this particular type of machines 'as'it is applicable to any kind of press employing a mold box and designed or adapted to make a number of sizes and shapes ofi plastic products.

- My invention consists of the parts and the constructions and combinations of parts 2o forming an interchangeable mold box oi the character which I will hereinafter describe and claim.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this speciiication and in which similar zgfreference characters indicate like parts,-

Figure 1, is atop plan view of an interchangeable mold-box embodying my invention. Fig. 2, is a vertical sectional view on the line C-D of Fig. l. Fig. 3, is a similar view on 3o the line A-B oi' F ig. l.

In the manufacture of molded clayprott ucts it is necessary to make a number of sizes and shapes of the dili'erent articles, which necessitates frequent changing of the molds or dies that form the ware. I-leretofore much delay and expense were created in dismantlingthe macoine in order to change from one shape or size of mold to another,

and tolessen this expense and economize in v .4o-the time required to make the change, are

the essential objects of :ny invention.

While my invention is applicable to either single or duplex molds I have prefer-red to illustrato the invention in connection with a 4'5 mold oi a duplex character; and to make the salient features oi the invention incre proe nounced, I'illustrate said invention Without association with the machine or press with vwhich it is usually used; likewise I omit the 5o usual and woll known pressure plates which enter the top and bottom of the mold and squeeze the interposed plastic material therebetween and thereby forni the ware the desired shape and'size.

Referringlto the aforesaid drawings, l rep 55 rescnts a irameof suitable form and usually cast in one piece, having suitable means/.as flanges, by which it may be retained in placee p in the "machine The outer walls of this frame are made to suit the machine in which 6o the mold is to be used. As herein shown the/ outer ends are parallel, likewise the ends the top and bottom surfaces. Cast integra with the' frame is a central partition, 2, which divides the frame into the two comparte, .6 5 ments shown, therebyiorming a double or duplex mold-box.

It will be observed in Figs. 2 and 3, that the 'inner walls oi. the open frame l and the walls of the partition, converge downwardly 7o and in practice these inner surfaces are machined at an 'angle to make thc mold chamber or opening at the lower side ci diameter than at the upper side, the said chamber being made a .standard size to receive the inner removable frame of the mold proper. It will. also be observed that in Fig.

l, I show the inside ci the frame i and 'the partition-2 as. recessed at B in order to lower the cost of manufacturing the die or moldto 8o' the consumer or user. i

The inner frames 5, or molds proper, are. shown of rectangular forni and having their outer sides machined or tapered Adownwardly and parallel with the tapering inner walls of' the frame 'l and partition 2. The inner Walls of the sides of vthe 'frames 5 parallel and the inner walls of the ends are parallel and at' right-angles with said sides whereby the chamber inclosed by the sides o@ and ends of' cach inner frame uniform andin the ninlfl shown, substantially rectangular.

The inner frames 5, I construct of metal although other suitable material) may he used, ii desired 5i 5 In order to prolong the life or 'wearing qualities of the iiiiner frames, each of said 'frames is machined sullicici'itlyy .large in the iirst instance to admit tlieliardencd met-al liners 7 'which l. machine to forni perfect bear loo ings on the inner surfaces of the 'frames 5, as shown at 8 in Figs. 2 and 3. These liners are heldin position by means oi" rivets which pass through the liners and also through the inner frames 5.

That I may hol'd the inner frames' and liners in place, I employ metal plates 9) 10 and 11 secured to the top surfaces of the sides beine" iframes and partition 2, which surfaces are machined. down. or recessed. to make the nppcr surfaces ot the plates linsli with the opper snrl'acrs ol' the Frames I, and. :5, the said plates bring sec-,ered by screws l2 or other well linown, easily removable, means. W'hr-never it becomes necessary to remove 'a lraino 5 with its liners, the proper plates 7 are removed i'roni the to?? of the i'raine 1 am l. partition i?, when a smaller mold or die n'iay be inserted and secured by the replacenient oi said plates Si, l() ami 11. It the smaller die or mold, or a mold or die of different shape from the one removed, is required, the nter surface will be machined to correspond with. the inclined or tapering inner Walls of the enter traine land partition 2, and when said die or mold is placed in positionit is held by the plates and. screws before mentioned..

As before stated, the primary object of my invc-intion is to provi( traine which is capable. of removal to admit another readily and Without removing the outer traine l l'roni the machine orpressing mechanism, said inner mold or frame having, preferably, a removable lining on its inner Walls. v Having thus described my invention, what claii'n as new and deisre to secure by Letters Patent is,-

i. A mold box comprising inner and outer fran'ies, said inner frame being interchangeable and. removably f'ittiz'ig the outer frame, said frames having their adjacent sides tapering downwardly, and` parallel and substantially litt-ing nach other, said innnr frame l'iaving its interior fashioned to` conform to the article to be molded, and retaining plates tixed to one of said frames and l'iaving a long side e.. tending liorizijmtally over in contact with the top or thiekcr end of the other iraine to renlovabiy heid the inner frame in. place.

2. A mold lion conhaving sides and ends, the e'iitcr Walis of said parz-illel and theontor Walls of the parailel, said l'ranie having inner ends being le an inner inold o14 prising an outer trame side and end Walls converging and a removable frame withl trarne, having the walls of its si converging conformably to the inner 'Walls oi' the outer frame fashioned` to conform to i'nolded 2 and the upper' ends of the frames being recessed, and retaining plates fitting said recesses and extending across and to each side of ,he joint between the frames Wherebjr the inner frame is held in position, said plates being secured -to one of said frames and having its top surface substantially flush With the upper surfaces of the frame.

4. duplexi i'nold outer frame having side and ends and a partition dividing said boX- into two compartments, the side Walls of the partition and the inner Walls of said sides and ends being tapered, an inner frame for each of said conipartinents, said inner fra-nies having outer Walls tapered conforinably to the inner Walls of the outer frame, .the upper surfaces of the outer frame and of the partition being inacbined or recessed, retaining plates fitting said recesses and extending over in contact with the upper surfaces of the inner frames, and removable fastening means Ifor said plates.

in testimony Whereofl have hereunto'set my hand. in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

'WILLIAM n. CUNNINGHAM. Witnesses: i

vG. F. ACKERMAN,

R. O` PERRoT'r.

and having its inner Walls box comprising an` 

